Opinion 1

In case of most reviews the methodology is quite schematic, almost routine. We get a new device for testing, or something that should not even be called a device, due to its function or construction. We look at it, we touch it and get our first impression, which we try to remember as well as we can, write it down and learn new experiences based on it. Then we plug that device into our system and allow it to reach optimal parameters during an accommodation period. At the same time the list of observations gets longer – we will need it later. After a week, or maybe two or even longer, when we have caught everything we could, or at least we think so (sometimes wrongly), we have to pass the device to another reviewer or send it back to the manufacturer/distributor. So the mentioned unit leaves our system once and for all. The moment of departure is sometimes less, sometimes more painful, it does also happen that the moment we return from that device to our system is like returning home from a long voyage.
This time it was different, although nothing foreshadowed the cataclysm. In the end we are used to, and we have some resistance to nice words of the distributors, to being told that this time we will live through an audiophile nirvana and reach a state of complete happiness.
Another element rising the level of our expectations, being already too high for common people (so we were told), is an absurd price. I am writing this with full conscience, because we received for testing a power strip, having no protection circuitry at all, called a power terminal to cover that up, costing 36 900 zlotys! Ladies and gentlemen – enter the Furutech Pure Power 6!

OK, when you are reading those words, it means that you are among the people who did not get a heart attack or a laugh attack after reading the previous paragraph, and you do not think, that being an audiophile is a sickness that should be treated in a closed hospital without access to media and most of all a credit card.
Welcome to the group of people who want to listen first, before uttering any opinions.

The mentioned Furutech, which I will later call shortly FPP6, is a beautifully machined block of aerial aluminum, where the simple yet elegant shape does not reveal its weight – full 10kg. But we should not be surprised, this is a monolith block, only with milled small chambers housing three pairs of rhodium plated, Furutech sockets of the type FI-E30(R) Schuko, an IEC FI-09 socket and central chamber filled with black granules GC-303, which reduce electromagnetic waves within the unit. The cabling is made from silver plated copper braid cables in PTFE insulation and the sockets are mounted in such a way, that any vibration is reduced. It is worth mentioning, that the grounding is ‘floating’ in this device, as the output sockets ground pins are not connected directly with the input pin, but with the chassis, which is connected to the input socket pin in a different place.
Due to the unconventional topology, internal cabling and separation of the output sockets, the FPP6 is quite problematic in terms of ergonomics, despite its compact shape. On one hand we should not expect from its owner, that they will hide it behind the cabinet with the system, but on the other hand placing even the most handsome power strip, where the cables run in all four directions of the world, in clear view may not be accepted by even the most liberal spouse. A reasonable compromise seems to be when we place the strip somewhere among our gear and use only four, side facing sockets. I am aware, that this seems an awful waste, but we leave us a way of quickly connecting other devices we use only occasionally.
We should also remember about one more thing. The Furutech is supported by elegant spikes, integrated in the corners of the chassis. When we do not use supplied washers, then they will scratch any surface we put the strip on. So we need to use memory aids and remember to use washers.

A little bit anticipating the facts and somewhat minimizing the fun of people waiting impatiently for the punch line, I will just write, that Roger Adamek (the owner of RCM) hurt us a lot when he brought us the FPP6 for testing. Because he brought something we cannot afford at this time, and (in my case) before completing a system costing hundreds of thousands of zlotys, leaving it at home would be seriously stupid. The problem is, that after I made a quick photo session and plugged it into my system, I knew, that nothing will force me to unplug it before I need to give it back. You may wonder why this could be a problem? Well – it is fairly easy – we get used to good things very quickly.
Having at my disposal the Jeff Rowland separated amplifier, with 300W power, I was able to catch and assess constraints of dynamics, if any, introduced by an additional element in the power grid. But instead of a constraint I experienced something completely different – dynamics reached a level far beyond what I heard before, and the system I use for testing reached an unprecedented summit of its capabilities. The effect could be compared to a situation, when powerful amplifiers would be trying to power full-sized speakers via a hair-thin cable and then we would change to a cable of adequate cross-section. There was more of everything, but not by ordinary increase of the size, but by having bigger, more natural freedom. Starting with a drastic progress of creating a sound stage with the size adequate to each recording, through the contours and sharpness of the localization of virtual sources on it and finishing with the structure of the tissue filling those contours. The impression was so overwhelming, that comparison to a dirty window being cleaned or to a breath of fresh air were not adequate to describe the situation. The scale of the changes was somewhere around moving from a flat in a grey city to an alpine mountain with a breathtaking view. The phenomenal album of Arne Domnerus “Antiphone Blues” is capable of impressing on its own, but after plugging in the FPP6 I could hear for myself, how much information, especially about space the recording was made in, escaped me. I was feeling like going along a well known road and discovering its unusual and enchanting beauty. But most shocking was the knowledge, that there is almost nothing inside the Furutech, and it fares better than the much more advance technologically devices like the Reimyo ALS-777 Limited or the Gigawatt PC-3 SE EVO. Depressed by this I tried to find a weaker point in the Japanese strip. While theoretically it only distributes, divides what it receives from the wall socket, having no technical possibilities to smoothen out the “impurities” of the current offered by its six sockets, then we should hear them all. So I prepared a special playlist and started to chase the witches. The player started to play Anna Maria Jopek – who is known from her sharp recordings, Youn Sun Nah – sometimes squeaking like an old gate and Barb Jungr with a voice harsh like a old fishing boat. Unfortunately I heard nothing else than a very realistic sound. No glassiness, no artifacts, no dulling. Only songs with over average expression, confirming that beauty is hidden in truth, and not in an artificial, “bettered” illusion.
It was similar with a more aggressive repertoire. The progressive-thrash Propagandhi “Failed States” or the “Submission for Liberty”, a heavy album of the Australian band 4ARM, did not leave any chance for finding any trace of mudding. In addition this “primitive” repertoire was not excluded from listening by definition. The Furutech did not discard the long-haired, tattooed guitar pickers but showed what thrash is about, and where to look for beauty in that music. Of course beauty dedicated to a certain group of listeners. The Pure Power was in my system the same thing as the series of science programs in TV, called “Time Warp”, where in one of the episodes Metallica was observed with cameras registering 10000 frames per second. Everything was better, clearer and with much more realism than ever before.

When I decided to confirm that I am beaten and started to enjoy the status quo – that the Furutech is not a step, but a giant leap in the direction I would like to move in my audiophile search, I started to write down my notes. However I had a big problem – how to describe the emptiness and sorrow left by the tested device. I could approach this quietly and try to have some kind of internal dialogue, like Joe Giddeon in “All that Jazz” to finally become reconciled with the inevitable, with returning the device. And please believe me – that was my intention, but then Jacek appeared and took it for testing by him, and my detailed plan got shot. There was no other way than to become bombastic and say something like “You left a big emptiness at my home, you Power Strip, when you left!”.
It does not matter how I will try to describe it, it will be without adequate tragedy, without adequate emotional load, it will become just another bragging of an audiophile, who thought, he heard something.

So I have one last request for you – if you do not plan to buy the Furutech Pure Power 6 then do not think about it and do not borrow it for listening. Unplugging it from your system will be like hurting your fingers with a car door. Now I know, why the manufacturer did not even place a photo of the strip on its web page, and there is only the name of it mentioned at the bottom of the unfiltered power strips section. The sentence „And lead us not into temptation…” becomes real.

Marcin Olszewski

Distributor: RCM
Price: 36 900 PLN

Specifications:
Chassis: CNC machined aerospace-grade aluminum alloy
AC Input/Output: 15A IEC input/ 6 rhodium plated schuko outlets
Materials Processing: Metal parts treated with α (Alpha) Cryogenic and Demagnetizing Process
Ground/Earth connection: Chassis Grounding Post
IEC: Rhodium-plated IEC input
Receptacles: 6 High Performance FI-E30(R) sockets
Internal wiring: 3 gauges of high-quality twisted-multigauge Teflon-shielded high-purity silver-plated Alpha-OFC
Solder: Special alloy solder
Size: 8”/250mm W x 8”/250mm H x 3”/95mm D
Weight: 22lbs/10kgs

System used in this test:
– CD/DAC: Ayon 1sc
– Digital source selector: Audio Authority 1177
– Network Music Player: Olive O2M; notebook Dell Inspiron 1764 + JRiver Media Center
– Turntable: Double synchronous motor Transrotor ZET 3 + 12″SME + Transrotor MC Merlo Reference + external power supply Transrotor Konstant M-1 Reference
– Phonostage: RCM Audio Sensor Prelude IC
– Integrated Amplifier: Electrocompaniet ECI 5;
– Preamplifier: Jeff Rowland Corus
– Power Amplifier: Jeff Rowland 625
– Speakers: Gauder Akustik Arcona 80 + spike extenders; EgglestonWorks Fontaine Signature
– IC RCA: Antipodes Audio Katipo
– IC XLR: LessLoss Anchorwave; Organic Audio
– Digital IC: Fadel art DigiLitz; Harmonic Technology Cyberlink Copper; Apogee Wyde Eye; Monster Cable Interlink LightSpeed 200
– USB Cable: Wireworld Starlight; Goldenote Firenze Silver
– Speaker Cables: Organic Audio; Signal Projects Hydra
– Power Cables: Furutech FP-3TS762 / FI-28R / FI-E38R; Organic Audio Power
– Power distribution board: GigaWatt PF-2 + LC-2mk2;Amare Musica Silver Passive Power Station
– Table: Rogoz Audio 4SM3
– Ethernet cables: Neyton CAT7+
– Accessories: Sevenrods Dust-caps; Furutech CF-080 Damping Ring; HighEndNovum PMR Premium; Albat Revolution Loudspeaker Chips; Acoustic Revive RAF-48H

Opinion 2

The name Furutech is probably known to all, who are at least marginally interested in the quality of sound reproduction. They have a giant catalog of products related to cabling of audio systems, accessories to those cables and some other complicated devices like: vinyl flattener, demagnetizer for LPs or ionizer of the audio gear. For an audiophile this is accessory heaven, for skeptics a Mecca to exploit the gold-eared trying to catch their audiophile bunny. You may say, that the proposed products are absolutely abundant, and can be called audio-voodoo gadgets, with only one goal, to strip people from their money. I convinced myself many times, that there are sound differences after changing cables, so I do not make any conclusions before listening, and if I have the opportunity, I gladly plug something controversial into my system. Usually I had no problems in hearing the introduced changes to the sound, and because sometimes those changes were for the better, sometimes for worse, it only confirmed the vast assortment offered by manufacturers is a good thing. To date, when playing with gadgets, that should bring me closer to the imagined ideal sound (reproducing live music is regarded utopian for a long time now), I tested a few power strips, conditioners and passive power filters, but such experiments were never neutral, always there was a degradation of the sound of my system, albeit sometimes minimal. Usually the power amplifier was the most sensitive part. The manufacturer also recommends plugging it directly into the wall, even while offering a power conditioner. Till now, his recommendation was always the way to follow when trying to have the best possible sound, despite the claims made by many different manufacturers. However just before the Warsaw Audio Show, the Katowice based RCM included a new power strip into its catalog, a strip that should, according to the distributor, get rid of the myth, that such devices negatively influence my system. Some time has passed, but finally I came in the position of being able to test those claims. I received the Japanese power strip Furutech Pure Power 6.

Pure Power 6 is a ten kilogram heavy block of aluminum, in the shape of a rectangle, placed on four pillars supported by spikes. The top cover is shaped in form of some kind of waves, where in the middle there is the manufacturer logo. When looking at the strip we see a very positive, modern design, that may appeal to many people. It can be placed among the most refined products with no shame. For sure, the modern and beautiful design will bring potential clients to the Furutech doors. The only issue can be the placement of the output sockets, especially for people with smaller listening rooms. The sockets are on all four side walls of the cabinet, what requires lots of space to use this strip. But this we could endure, when wanting to improve the sound of our system, if we can deal with its price, which I will mention at the end of the text. The price is something relative, you can laugh or fuss about it, but if somebody was searching for a lossless way of delivering power to his components, and after many disappointments plugs them in this strip, then he will quickly forget about it. Finding something ideally fitting into a system (I mean something that does not hurt it) will for sure consider a purchase, which will close the search. Of course I assume, that a client that will give the Furutech a listen, is capable, emotionally and financially, to buy it. I will just mention, that besides the input socket there is a grounding screw available, and there are six output sockets. We do not get a power cable included in the package. Trying not to notice the zeros on the price tag, I decided to plug-in my power amplifier, which was very successful in showing all shortcomings of such kind of devices, into it. On one hand I hoped for a good result, on the other, after so many disappointments, I could not believe this time would be different. So with mixed emotions I sat down listening to the results of feeding my KAP-777 via the power strip supplied by the Katowice based RCM.

I will try to write down my thoughts and reactions I had during the test without much ado (it is just a nicely packaged strip, nothing else). Even now, a few days after it happened, I remember exactly the moment I plugged it into my system. I just waited to hear the aluminum item to fail. Another thing is, that if I would receive this thing as a present, and even if it would not prove itself sonic wise, it would still remain in my system – it looks so nice. But we do not buy such things to look at them, so I started listening. A few notes of well known and recorded pieces destroyed my good feeling. I plugged the poweramp into the wall and … I cannot believe my ears. I plug again to the strip and … this is impossible. Again to the wall … the same happens. The effect? Finally I found a way to increase the number of power sockets in my system. Although the price is a vital element of buying decision, so things are currently clear only in the virtual world, but I noticed a solution for people, who have power cables at the price of a compact car. And believe me, there are enough people like that in our country, and it is them, where this Furutech power strip is aimed at. Nobody tries to force anybody into anything, but after many disappointments with different conditioners and similar items, this devices proposes its way of distributing power without losses. I do not know how they do this, the distributor talks only about passive filters, but the effect surpassed my wildest imagination. Theoretically such a power distributor should be absolutely transparent, but I have not yet encountered such a thing, and the tested device has something to say in this aspect too. If this will be regarded in a positive or negative way, will depend on the client, but my conclusions go in the positive direction, so I will try to describe them as clearly as I can. To date all such devices diminished the freedom in the higher frequencies, while at the same time rounding off the lowest octaves. The sound became warmer, and in many cases this could bring positive things to a system, but in absolute categories I perceived that as slight limitation of airiness of music coming out from the loudspeakers. This was like a thinner or thicker veil, which could go unnoticed in systems at lower price levels, but was clearly visible in my system. This time the Japanese product proved itself in that aspect, and if I would search for any “destructive” interference, then I would mention that there is some influence on the final effect. For many people a power strip should be a wire and that is it. Yet the Pure Power 6  increases the resolution of the sounds coming from the stage. Not by changing the timbre – this is exactly the same as from the wall, but due to the increase of available information, what results in the effect of more air and light on the virtual stage. More readable cymbals (this is really something for me), without becoming artificial, more open midrange and better control of the bass (we perceive it at first, as if there would be less bass, but this is the result of it becoming more readable). This all results in a shift of how we perceive things. I do not know if everybody will like this kind of interference (because there is any), but for me this was a good addition. Of course please use your common sense and do not think, that the change would be like going from an amplifier costing 1000 zlotys to a 30000 one, because such changes on the price level of the power strip would rather mean, that something is badly wrong with the system. But I say with full commitment, that the Japanese strip does more good than bad and I will be looking for some serious competition.

This adventure with the Pure Power 6 allowed me to revise my view on such “toys”. For the moment, this is the first item that does not limit my system, but also brings some positive influence into the sound of it. Whether you like it or not, you need to hear this for yourself, borrowing it for testing in your own system. I did not notice any diminishing of dynamics, or any averaging of the sound. And this is really a big achievement, when confronted with the need to power an amplifier, that has a 1kW transformer inside. I recommend all audiophiles, that are not killed by its price, to verify this power strip in their systems.

PS. To confirm the “audio voodoo” done by this strip, I will describe a situation that happened just before taking the device back to Marcin. Because I had a test of a turntable costing about 100000 zlotys at the same time (it will be published soon) I invited a colleague, who has a similarly priced system as my own, to show the incredible resolution and contour for the analog system, while preserving the smoothness and timbre it has. When he sat down he noticed the aluminum body of the Furutech and asked about it. I told him, together with the price. He just said “I would not pay such amount for just a power strip”. I said he is right, as I acted similarly. But he allowed me to plug in the unit and showed me what happened with the sound stage with his hands. After about an hour I unplugged it and again he showed what happened to the stage, but his hands moved in the opposite direction. I revised my view on the strip after listening a few days to it. I decided to buy it when I will have the money. My colleague asked if he can listen in his system, and I arranged for that. Next day in the morning, 7:30 am, he called me to tell how spectacular the change was. And he knows his ways in the audiophile world, and no simple thing would made him say that. I am not sure if this will convince anybody, but if the price of the Furutech (36900 zlotys) will not make you needing to sell a kidney to get it, then you should borrow it from RCM and listen in your own system. But be warned – there is a big chance, that you will not send it back.

Jacek Pazio

The system used in the test, a complete set of Combak Corporation.

 Electronics Reimyo:
– Separate DAC + CD player: CDT – 777 + DAP – 999 EX
– Tube preamp: CAT – 777 MK II
– Solid state power amp: KAP – 777
Speakers: Bravo Consequence +
Power cables: Harmonix X-DC-350M2R Improved Version
Speaker Cables: Harmonix HS 101-EXQ (mid-high section); Harmonix HS-101 SLC (bass section)
IC RCA Harmonix HS 101-GP
Digital IC: Harmonix HS 102
Table: Rogoz Audio
Accessories: Antivibration stand for the power amp by Harmonix TU-505EX MK2; Harmonix Enacom improved for AC 100-240V; Harmonix Tuning Room Mini Disk RFA-80i; Acoustic Revive RST-38H

 Analog stage:
– Turntable:
drive: Dr. Feickert Analogue „Twin”; Thales TTT Compact
arm: SME V; Siplicity
cartridge: Dynavector XX-2 MK II; Kuzma CAR-30
– Phonostage: RCM „THERIAA”